A tactile model of the night summer northern sky for the teaching of astronomy to the BVI

TL;DR

This paper presents a tactile 3D model and multisensory resources designed to teach astronomy to blind and visually impaired individuals, enhancing their understanding of the night sky through tactile and auditory experiences.

Contribution

Introduction of a novel tactile relief model and sound resources for teaching the northern hemisphere night sky to BVI audiences, promoting inclusive astronomy education.

Findings

Models effectively aid BVI in understanding star configurations

Resources enhance multisensory learning experiences

Positive feedback from diverse audiences

Abstract

Astroaccesible is an outreach project hosted by the Instituto de Astrof\'{\i}sica de Andaluc\'{\i}a - CSIC aimed at the teaching and popularisation of the astronomy among all publics independently of their capabilities and abilities, paying special attention to the collective of blind and visually impaired (BVI). Among the different strategies and resources using in our project, we have developed new 3D models representing in relief some of the stars, constellations and deep sky objects that can be observed during night from the Northern hemisphere in spring and summer. These models can be used by BVI to transmit to them the spatial configuration of the sky during night, but can be also used as an additional resource for all kind of publics to complement their sensorial experience. We also describe additional resources based on sounds that can also be employed to get deeper into this multisensorial experience. Finally, we summarize some of the activities and the context in which this new material has been used in the last 2 years.